New Blues Review 9-2-25

By Jack Roy


Robert Jon & The Wreck – Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes (Journeyman)

Bio – “Reigning from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the classic Southern rock sound and infuse it with a distinctly modern edge. Since their inception in 2011, the band—Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass), and Jake Abernathie (keyboards)—has captivated audiences worldwide with their powerful guitar work, rich vocal harmonies, and genre-blurring songwriting. Their latest studio album, Red Moon Rising (2024), marks a bold new chapter for the band. Produced by the legendary Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes), the album showcases the group’s evolution, blending funk-infused rhythms, heartfelt lyrics, and Southern rock roots. Tracks like the acoustic-driven “Down No More,” co-written with Nashville hitmaker Dylan Altman, highlight the band’s versatility and knack for compelling storytelling, while songs such as “Ballad of a Broken-Hearted Man” and “Dragging Me Down” demonstrate their dynamic range and emotional depth. Hailed as “groundbreaking” by Planet Mosh and praised for its “transformative” sound by Vintage Rock, Red Moon Rising sets a new standard for the Southern rock genre. Robert Jon & The Wreck have built a reputation as one of the hardest-working bands in the business, earning critical acclaim and amassing a loyal global following. Their electrifying live performances have seen them share stages with icons like Joe Bonamassa, Blackberry Smoke, Peter Frampton, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Rival Sons, alongside headlining sold-out shows across the US, Europe, and beyond. Beyond the stage, the band has also used their platform for good, donating proceeds from their music video “Give Love” to support Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, further solidifying their commitment to both their fans and the music community. Robert Jon & The Wreck continue to redefine California Southern rock, blending the genre’s rich history with a fresh, innovative spirit. Whether it’s through their studio recordings or their explosive live shows, the band’s mission remains the same: to connect deeply with their audience and carry the indomitable spirit of rock ’n’ roll forward into the future.”

Review – This is a really great Southern Rock band, not sure I would have included this in the Blues Genre, but still really good. Some amazing musicians that shows that they have their chops down. Robert Jon Burrison has an amazing voice and the band just blankets it to create such a full sound. Song writing is incredible, this is definitely a band to watch out for. My two Standouts are “Keep Myself Clean” and “Long Gone”. I think my favorite is “Old Man″, listen here. I will give this an 8 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.


Kirk Fletcher –Keep On Pushing (Vizztone Records)

Bio – “Born and raised in Bellflower, CA, he built a foundation for the Blues in the Compton church where his father served as pastor. Inspired by his older brother Walter (seventeen years Kirk’s senior), he cut his teeth in front of the congregation, playing guitar regularly in the church until his early twenties. He eventually wound up touring as a guitarist in Kim Wilson’s Blues Revue and recording on Wilson’s Smokin’ Joint [2001], which garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination. In between live guest spots for Cyndi Lauper and Michelle Branch, he performed on The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ Painted On. Other various highlights spanned a stint in The Mannish Boys and handling lead guitar for Eros Ramazzotti. He joined Bonamassa for legendary performances and live records, including Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks and Live at the Greek Theater. The latter notably bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart. Meanwhile, Kirk’s solo offering, Hold On, cracked the Top 15 of the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart and garnered a nod in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album” at the 2019 Blues Music Awards. The follow-up My Blues Pathway arrived to widespread acclaim. Guitar World put it best, “there’s a sweetness and authenticity to his approach that screams class.” While living in Switzerland during the pandemic, he spent time crate digging, picking up European pressings of Blues and Soul records. At the same time, he wrote Heartache By The Pound, collaborating with friend and legendary bassist Richard Cousins, as a primary co-writer.”

Review – Oh man, this is a real gem. Kirk reminds me so much of Otis Rush in his singing and lead playing. Such a talented Bluesman and his band is so good also. Kirk has JD Simo on guitar, Jason Smay on Drums, and Ron Eoff on Bass. Kirk’s articulation in his lead playing on guitar is just breathtaking as in his cover of Percy Mayfield’s “Lost Love”. Other standouts for me were “Blues For Robert Nighthawk” and “Keep On Pushing”, but I swear each tune on this CD is gold. I think my favorite is the cover of Arthur Crudup’s “I’m Going Dig Myself A Hole″, listen here. I will give this a 10+ on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.


Yates McKendree – Need To Know (Qualified Records)

Bio – “Born in Nashville and raised in a recording studio, multi-instrumentalist Yates McKendree grew up hearing and playing with some of Music City’s greatest musicians. Self taught from the age 3, music came to him naturally. Although still just a young man of 23 years, his experience as a professional musician goes back over a decade. That early experience includes playing regularly in some of Nashville’s most notable venues (The Bluebird Cafe, The Ryman Auditorium, Third & Lindsley). It also includes North American and European tours and multiple appearances on national television.
Because of Yates’s lifelong, intense dedication to blues and roots music, he has developed a direct line from his soul to whatever instrument he holds. When he sings and plays, you don’t just hear it, you feel it…deeply.”

Review – This is my first introduction to Yates McKendree and I am now a real fan. He has got the voice and is a real guitar slinger. Yates has a lot of rotating musicians playing on this album including Kevin McKendree on Keys, Robert Frahm on Guitar, Griffin Photoglou on Drums, Steve Mackey on Bass, Jim Hoke, Steve Herman and John Hinchey on Horns and a few other artists mixed in. Some of the standouts for me were “Ode To Billy Joe”, nice organ based song, “Brunin’ Tears” and the James Brown Cover of “I Don’t Care”. I think my favorite is cool jazzy type cover of “See See Rider″, listen here. I will give this a 9 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.


Stax Revue – Live In 65′ (Stax/Craft)

Bio – “While this live set is heavy on the bass & recorded crudely compared to an official live release, it does capture the groove with excitement. The classic Booker T. & the MGs (Alan Jackson – drums/Lewis Steinberg-bass) instrumental “Green Onions” with the expected electricity of Steve Cropper’s lead guitar & the steamy Booker T organ percolates with energy — if not long enough. The entire Booker T showcase is one of the best & “You Can’t Sit Down,” the old Dovells hit, was one of the best. The sets were captured at the Memphis Club Paradise (June/July 1969) & on in L.A. at the 5-4 Ballroom in Watts (August 1969). 11 tracks are on CD # 1 (44:47) & 10 on CD#2 (56:24) of the double album Stax Revue – Live in ’65 (Drops Aug 8/Craft Recordings/Concord) produced for release by Alec Paleo. The show’s live banter is hard to understand at times & the audience noise does intrude on some performances. But hey, it was 1969. Some fine doo-wop didn’t escape the late ‘60s audience when The Astors harmonized on “What Can It Be.” It wasn’t as exciting as The Students’ ”Every Day of the Week,” but the voices on this live track have clarity & the tonality blends street corner perfection.”

Review – This is an incredible collection of live tunes from Stax Records. It is just so good with artists like Booker T & The MGs, Wilson Pickett, Astors, David Porter, Wendy Rene, Mar-Keys, Mad Lads, William Bell and Carla Thomas. Great album of early Rock & Roll, Soul, Do-op and some Bluesy tunes, but not many. I think my favorite is the amazing Wendy Rene’s “Bar B Que″, listen here. I will give this an 8 on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.


Tom Hambridge – Down The Hatch (Quarto Valley Records)

Bio – “Tom Hambridge is a Four-time Grammy™- winning producer, songwriter, & drummer for his production work on three of blues legend Buddy Guy’s most critically acclaimed albums: ‘Living Proof’ (2011) , “Born to Play Guitar’ (2016), ‘The Blues is Alive and Well’ (2018), and for his work on Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s Album ‘662’ (2022). Tom has also produced 9 other Grammy nominated albums. He has won numerous Blues Music Awards and W.C. Handy Awards, eight Boston Music Awards and several ASCAP Country Music Awards. He’s the recipient of the prestigious KBA (Keeping the Blues Alive) Award in Memphis and has been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. The list of artist collaborators includes: Gary Clark Jr., Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, B.B. King, Gregg Allman, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Kid Rock, Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, George Thorogood and Susan Tedeschi, among many others. Over 600 of Tom’s songs have been recorded (and many top charted) by such diverse artists as: Buddy Guy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Rascal Flatts, Eric Burdon (The Animals,) James Cotton, Foghat, Delbert McClinton, Van Zant, and Joe Bonamassa. Tom has also recorded, performed and toured with Chuck Berry, Boston, Hank Williams Jr., Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Winter, George Thorogood & the Destroyers and Keb’ Mo’, among many others. As a prolific solo recording artist, Tom has released seven well-regarded albums including his latest, The NOLA Sessions (release June 22, 2018), which was inspired by the beauty and creative depth of New Orleans. Tom set out to create a biographical blues LP by leveraging the immense talents of local musicians and legends including the late, great Allen Toussaint, Clapton’s favorite slide guitarist, Sonny Landreth, and the B3 mastery of Ivan Neville, as well as rich artistic contributions drawn from New Orleans’ musical heritage. The Nola Sessions has been Top 5 in the Roots Music Report’s Blues and Contemporary Blues charts for over 28 weeks as of 2/1/19.”

Review – We have reviewed a few recordings from Tom over the years and this one stacks up as maybe one of his best. Nice variety of tunes, many fast paced and some good driving music like in his tune “You Gotta Go Through St. Louis” with Buddy Guy lending a hand on lead. Great seeing another Drummer/Singer in the Blues Genre, he definitely has a nice gravely voice for the Blues. Other musicians in his group are Rob McNelley and Bob Britt on Guitars, Anton Nesbitt and Tommy Macdonald on Bass, and Mike Rojas and John Lancaster on Keys. Some of the standout songs for my ears was “What Might Of Been”, “Believe These Blues” and “Hard Times” but I think my favorite kind of Bluesy/Country tune with great lyrics “Start Drinking Early Day″, listen here. I will give this a 9 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.


BB & The Bullets – High Tide (Nixon Street Recordings)

Bio – “After returning home from Australia, Brian Baker wasted no time making his mark on the New Zealand music scene with highly acclaimed and critically acclaimed singles and music videos. His solo show, in particular, has seen him perform at concerts and festivals across the country. He joined forces with two New Zealand musicians, Stu Duncan and Brad McMillan, both seasoned artists. The band, called BB & The Bullets, focuses on blues, covering songs by Albert King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan and other classics of the genre. They also perform some of Brian’s excellent compositions and have recorded a few original tracks. These tracks comprise their debut album, High Tide. The guitar playing that made Brian’s solo performances so distinctive is well showcased here, supported by a dynamic live rhythm section. Their concerts have been warmly received wherever they’ve performed, notably receiving standing ovations at the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, where they delivered six remarkable performances in three days!”

Review – Alright, this is a fun album. A cool New Zealand Rock Band with some Bluesy tendencies. They do handle the covers of “Born Under A Bad Sign” and “The Thrill Is Gone” pretty well. Great three piece band with Brad McMillian on Drums and Vocals, Stu Duncan on Bass and Vocals, and Brian Baker on Guitar and Vocals. Stand out tunes for me were “Seven Ways To Sin” and the weird “Big Boot Running”. I think my favorite is the Beatles cover of “I Want You″, Its just such a cool tune and they do it justice and add their own flair, listen here. I will give this a 9 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.


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